Hospital + No Service= Chaos

Well I made it to Robbinsville on wednesday around 7pm. I was originally suppose to have dinner in Atlanta with my brother but received a phone call from my dad telling me that my mom was in the hospital. So I ditched my brother and came on over here. Now my mom is ok, they still aren't sure what caused her problem but they have ruled out a lot and after one night in the hospital and a ct scan they released her. Amazingly enough the small town hospital was very nice and the staff were great. However the real chaos came when people back home started finding out about my mom through different sources because they had no way to get in touch with her. Up here our nextels don't work so it was a little bit chaotic trying to call people on top of the fact that my mom was having some anxiety so she honestly didn't really feel up to phone calls. Anyways that adventure is over, my dad flew up so he is here now and the McGregor work team leaves tomorrow. Please pray that it would not rain tomorrow, they are putting on a youth day here for the community and everyone is so pumped for it.  

So I guess that summer has begun... here we go!

I'm Gonna Miss This

As I get ready to head back to NC I realize that there are things I will miss a lot...

1. My Family

I love my big, crazy, odd, funny, annoying, loud, entertaining family and I know that I will miss them dearly.

2. My Friends

The friends I have in my life here in Ft. Myers are great and I will miss our game nights and all our laughing and hugging (haha).

3. Girl Nights and Middle Schoolers

I have enjoyed getting to know some of the middle schoolers at our church and will miss them and their enthusiasm. I will also miss girl nights with Megan and Kelly. These two girls are just awesome! Friday night we had a great girls night that lasted till 4 in the morning. Good Times!

I am so excited for this summer and to see what all God has in store. Please pray that I would continue to follow his leading. 

Weekend Getaway

This weekend my mom decided to get a room at the Hyatt in Bonita. Granted it was quite funny when they asked where we were from seems how our house isn't even 10 minutes away from there. However that question not to be out done by the bellhop dude asking if I was on my school break. Yeah I love looking like I'm 13, not. The weekend was a ton of fun. My mom, Matty and I spent saturday and sunday night there. While my brother and Marie came out on saturday and sunday afternoon to hang out. We went around and around in the lazy river and played some cards at night. It was some good family time and I was more then happy to enjoy it seems how I leave in less then a week. I also enjoyed getting some sun so I can head back to NC looking like a floridian. 

Sadly Tawnya, Stephan and Ryne weren't here nor was my dad (he's hunting in Missouri). 

Loving Regardless

Have you ever had people in your life who had such a huge impact on you that you feel totally incapable of putting it all into words, like you wouldn't even be able to give them justice. I have been so blessed to have countless people in my life who have loved me, encouraged me, spoke truth into my life, supported me, allowed me to be me and so much more. I can't begin to explain all the different people and their impacts however I do want to share a more recent impact. This past summer I had the blessing of being a part of a community that required me to bear with others, love them where they were and more importantly get over myself for the bigger picture. I learned to be honest, vulnerable and accepting through it all and because of it I stand today with friendships that mean the world to me. One of which made the whole concept of Love Regardless so real in my life.

Before the end of the summer God showed me just how real the statement is that you never know what someone has been through or what they are going through. The icing on the cake to this lesson happened while sitting around a fire having someone share their pains and struggles. To be honest I couldn't even begin to judge what they were saying, I just sat their thinking how I had been frustrated with them a couple days before because I thought they were acting like a five year old. And in that moment my heart broke for them and I realized how much I had acted like a five year old. I'm not saying that they weren't acting like a five year old or that their history justifies their every action but what I am saying is that night it became so clear to me that I should offer more grace to people and just love them where they are. I went away that night thinking about them and thinking regardless of your struggles I love you and regardless of what happens I will keep loving you.

Since then it has become a thought I cling to in every situation. I'm not saying that people aren't going to hurt me and that I'm never going to be mad at someone or that they won't make a completely stupid decision (I'm sure I will). I am saying that I just feel we would all be better off if we could look at someone and say regardless of my faults, regardless of your mistakes, regardless of your words, regardless of our falling out, regardless of your sin, my sin I will love you.

It's already not been a walk in the park for me and honestly there have been days when I've even thought man forget it I'm done and even thought it about the person who I learned the lesson from. Their have been days when I thought about dropping them and running because in the past I rocked at that, but it's those moments when I realize that my love regardless covers those moments too and some how I decide to keep fighting and loving. So that has become my prayer that I would love regardless every moment and that we all would love a little bit more.

Charlotte

Well my week in Charlotte is almost over and I'm sad to see it go. I have loved being back here and being able to just spend time with everybody. I'm just going to run through some of the highlights from this week~

~Tina's hug when I came into her house on the first           night

   ~My sidewalk art by the Burchard kids

   ~My hour and a half lunch with Lara and the boys at           chick-fil-a (yeah I'm moving to Panama)haha

  ~The night with 8 of the kiddos and Lauren.. yeah we         looked like a daycare

   ~Being back at Ridge yesterday

   ~Holding Grey and spoiling him after Ridge yesterday

   ~Computer pow-wow with

      Tina and Rusty

   ~Lunch with Lauren               today

The people here are wonderful and I will miss them dearly and can't wait to come visit again soon. 

Clear The Stage

During the last night at Underground they showed a slide show of the song Clear The Stage by Ross King. It was really simple the music played and the lyrics of the song faded in and out in white on the black screen. I just wanted to share the lyrics with you seems how I have no idea how to post a video on here or music. However you can look it up on youtube and watch it.

Clear the stage and set the sound and lights ablaze
If that's the measure that it takes to crush the idols.
Chuck the pews and all the decorations too 
Until the congregations few then have revival.
Tell your friends that this is where the party ends 
until you're broken for your sins you can't be social.
Then seek the Lord and wait for what he has in store 
and know that great is your reward and just be hopeful

Cause you can sing all you want to.
Yes you can sing all you want to
you can sing all you want to
And don't get me wrong, worship is more than a song.

Take a break from all the plans that you made 
And sit at home alone and wait for God to whisper.
Beg Him please to open up his mouth and speak 
And pray for real upon your knees until they blister.
Shine the light on every corner of your life 
Until the pride and lust and lies are in the open.
Then read the word and put to test the things you've heard
Until your heart and soul are stirred and rocked and broken.

Cause you can sing all you want to.
Yes you can sing all you want to
you can sing all you want to
And don't get me wrong, worship is more than a song.

Anything I put before my God is an idol.
Anything I want with all my heart is an idol.
Anything I can't stop thinking of is an idol.
Anything that I give all my love is an idol.
We must not worship something that's not even worth it.
Clear the stage and make some space for the one who deserves it.

Cause I can sing all I want to.
Yes I can sing all I want to
I can sing all I want to
And still get it wrong, worship is more than a song.

And you can sing all you want to.
Yes you can sing all you want to
You can sing all you want to
But don't get me wrong, worship is more than a song. 

Weekend Update

Underground went great, I ended up with 13 7th Grade Girls. The girls were CRAZY, but I enjoyed every minute of it. Throughout the week a couple kids gave their lives to Christ a couple rededicated their lives and one came forward to say she felt called into missions or full time christian service. Also on Sunday a handful were baptized.

So besides Underground the weekend held another fun twist. Last Saturday night I decided I really wanted to go to Charlotte to see everyone and spend some time with Lauren in and out of the office. I looked online and found a really cheap ticket and called Lauren to see if it would work. Then I decided that I would just surprise Tina. Well my flight was for this tuesday but what do you know Skybus closed. AHHH... However my parents were problem solving for me and as I write this I am in the Microtel in Robbinsville, NC. My mom was going to come up here with my uncle and my cousin to talk to Marty at camp and they agreed to take me to Charlotte after the adventure here. 

oh man do I love this place and the people here and I can't begin to express how EXCITED I am to go to Charlotte tomorrow and see everyone, especially my second family the Burchards!!!